FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions OR “Hiring a DJ 101”

YES …It is absolutely paramount that you have an opportunity to interview, in person, the specific DJ that you will be working with and determine whether you feel comfortable with them. You should also expect that the individual DJ’s name is specified on your contract – it is the only way you can be guaranteed his or her services at your wedding.

It is only perceived to be the same thing. Even within the same company, each DJ is unique, with his own personality, level of experience, reputation, people skills, musical knowledge and talent as a DJ/MC. DJs don’t all deliver identical results. The tough part is narrowing down the field without letting the price alone rule your decision. If you decide to book a great DJ who is the perfect fit for you but costs a bit more than your DJ budget, many couples simply reduce (or omit) a less important costs and are still able to stick to their original total budget. A bad DJ = a bad wedding.

When you contact a professional disc jockey, they should be willing to hold your date for you for a reasonable amount of time in order to give you a chance to meet with them. They should also give you ample time after your meeting to make a decision and give you time to interview other DJs. Some DJs will use pressure sales tactics to “hard close” you at your meeting, offering a special sale that ends that day, or claiming that another couple is meeting with them for the same date – attempting to pressure you to make a decision on the spot. Any DJ that uses these types of tactics is unprofessional and is most likely doing so in order to keep you from meeting other DJs (whom they know you’ll like more than you like them). One week is a reasonable amount of time to expect your date to be held for you following an initial meeting. At DCViBEZ, we give 15 days.

Honestly, I recommend booking as soon as possible. I only book one event per day so my availability is limited. Most of my clients book several months in advance; many up to more than a year ahead. This is especially true for Saturday weddings and some of the more popular dates during the year.

We typically do, but then again, we don’t have to—it’s up to you! We generally take care of all announcements throughout the course of the evening, keeping the night on schedule. We’re very comfortable talking in front of crowds of any size, but we won’t overuse the mic either; we’ll typically only use it to keep your guests informed.

Your DJ will arrive one hour prior to the scheduled start time of your event unless other arrangements have been made. It typically takes about forty-five minutes to set up so this allows us to be set up before guests arrive.

Absolutely! We’ll work with you prior to your event to determine the specific styles and individual requests that you’d like played. We’ll also encourage your guests to make requests (if you approve) to make sure we play the songs that you and your guests want to dance to.

It is extremely important to have your booking confirmed in writing. DCViBEZ DJs will provide you with a written contract outlining the terms of your service. We will sign the contract and send you a copy to retain for your records. It is important to have a contract to guarantee your DJ services. I would never suggest booking any DJ service without a written contract.

DCViBEZ DJs has the latest in Mobile Wedding DJ equipment. Our equipment is extremely reliable. I think it is important to plan in case equipment does go out. We do have a full back up plan for each piece of equipment in case something does go wrong so we can play your wedding without fail. That includes a backup music library that will contain all of your special songs and wedding favorites.

Any professional wedding disc jockey will take pride in their work, and be able to answer this question honestly and communicate the things that make their services unique. Some DJs, however, will take this opportunity to “bash” their competition and say negative things about specific DJs or agencies. We consider this type of behavior unprofessional (in fact, doing this is strictly forbidden for members of the American Disc Jockey Association, party masters, and is a poor reflection on them. In fact, you may want to consider making it a point to meet any DJ that they say something bad about – DJs that engage in this type of thing will often target the DJs they’re afraid you’ll book instead of them, and they’re probably right!

Sorry the answer is NO. We’re sure that you wouldn’t appreciate the DJ inviting prospective clients to your wedding to see him in action. A professional DJ should be willing to take a stand for his clients’ privacy and not offer this as a possibility. Any DJ who allows you to view them at a wedding will probably invite potential clients to crash your wedding too. Viewing a performance also assumes that the DJ will be playing the same music at your wedding when it should always be a unique mixture of music based on that couple’s preferences and differing from what he will do to match your tastes. We feel that a combination of videos, numerous verified reviews and an in-depth, personal meeting with the DJ you are considering far exceeds dropping by a private event and feeling awkward for 20 minutes while watching the DJ perform music to fit a different crowd or client’s vision.

Speaking to a wedding DJ’s former clients is a great way to get a feel for what it is like to work with them, and any DJ should be ready and willing to allow you to speak with their references. He should also be willing to contact several of these references in advance of providing you with their information, so that they have his permission and so you feel comfortable calling them. Check us out on weddingwire.com

When dealing with sub-standard DJs, there are often issues with them being punctual and set up well in advance of your guests’ arrival. Professional DJs will always arrive at least a full hour before their scheduled start time in order to have adequate time to set up and get organized before the wedding. DCViBEZ DJs policy is to arrive at least an hour and a half before our scheduled start time.

It is absolutely essential that any DJ you consider carries a full liability insurance policy. They are fairly inexpensive, so being uninsured is inexcusable. Some reception sites have even taken the step of requiring all vendors working at their facility to provide proof of insurance before the wedding. Liability insurance protects you and the reception site in the unlikely event that you’re DJ injures one of your guests or burns your reception site to the ground.

We don’t have them. We DO NOT make a playlist ahead of your event. A good DJ will read the crowd and play to the crowd. We work with you ahead of time to see what you like (and what you hate), and use that as a starting point. From there we ride the momentum of the crowd, getting songs in that can appeal to various members of your guest list. We are fluid and flexible with how we entertain your guests.

YES! Along with a playlist you can make a DO-NOT-PLAY list, including any song titles, artists, or styles of music you would not like to hear. Our DJ’s are very strict in making sure we abide by these lists, after all, it’s YOUR wedding!

While gratuity is not mandatory, as in all service industry’s tipping your wedding dj certainly appreciated for a job well-done. Many clients have asked delicately, “What would be an appropriate amount to tip the DJ?” We have observed most clients decide on a gratuity between 8-15% or around $100+.

Professionally. Your Disc Jockey will be well dressed, well groomed and polite. A dress shirt, dress pants and tie are standard apparel. It’s important to maintain a professional appearance, but also to make sure we stand apart from the wedding party. If you have special attire needs for your event, please let us know in advance.

No. Our entertainers do not dress in any type of costume or hand out silly props to the crowd. We also don’t harass your guests into joining us on the dance floor, nor do we teach them how to line dance. If you are seeking a performer to motivate your guests in this way, you would probably be happier with another DJ company – there are a few who specialize in this interactive style of entertainment!